Chapter: Returning the Greeting while in Prayer

• Ahmad was asked about returning the greeting with a gesture while in prayer, and he said: "There is no harm in it."

• I heard Ishaq say: "If a greeting is offered to you while you are praying, do not return it until you have finished praying. If he (the person greeting) is nearby, return the greeting to him. If he has already left, then follow him with the greeting."

• Ishaq also said: "If you do not return it with a gesture until you have finished, then follow it with the greeting." He added: "And if one returns it with a gesture—as the Prophet (peace be upon him) did—it is permissible."

• Ishaq said: "If a man greets you while you are praying and you return the greeting to him, then restart your prayer, for that is speech."

Chapter: Greeting the One Who Is Praying

• It was said to Ahmad: "A man enters the mosque, and among the people are those who are praying and those who are sitting. Should he offer the greeting?" He said: "Yes, he should greet those who are sitting."

• I heard Ishaq say: "If you reach the mosque and the people are praying, do not greet them, unless there is someone among them who is not praying; then greet them all. If the one not praying returns the greeting, it suffices for the one who is praying."

1042 - Muhammad ibn al-Wazir narrated to us, saying: Marwan ibn Muhammad narrated to us, saying: Ibn Lahi'ah narrated to us, saying: Abu al-Zubayr narrated to us, saying: I heard Jabir ibn 'Abdullah say: "I dislike that a man should greet a group of people while they are praying."

Marwan said: "This is the jurisprudence (fiqh)."